MELBOURNE: The decision by global automotive giant Toyota to close its manufacturing operation in Australia has sparked political fight between the federal opposition and Tony Abbott's government, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

The world's largest carmaker made the decision late Monday to shut its local production in 2017, which will result in a job loss of 2,500 in its Altona plant in Melbourne and the estimated jobs at risk would be 25,000 to 44,000 nationwide, according to the union and some local media.

"The car industry has died under the Abbott government, it's a disgrace," said the federal opposition leader Bill Shorten, accusing the government of lacking support for jobs in the country and the prime minister of "busy playing political games and stunts. "

However, Abbott told local media Tuesday that he would not provide "false hope" to the workers and he believed a better future for them in the long run.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane also has said Toyota didn't make the decision due to insufficient government support and the country's manufacturing will survive without the carbuilders.

Toyota, with 66 years history of building cars in Australia, was the third automotive maker after Ford and Holden to withdraw from the Australian car making business in the past 12 months, all of which are huge blows to the economy of the states of Victoria and South Australia which house many manufacturing plants.

After the shutting down decisions by the three giants, all of the new cars will be imported from abroad after 2017. -- BERNAMA